Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1887-12-12


He was as helpless in his bed as q
paralvtic; several customers Knocked
at the door, but he was unable "a
open il. Soon after the pebble, hi,
sons morning salutation ratified on
the roof, but he could not reply by
the song they had agreed upon. Three
times the child repeated his signal,
and vet all was silent within the shop,
for the poor mans tongue was SO af-
fected that he could do no more than
family utter a few words.
But TO return TO little Joachim he
had gone TO sleep the evening before
with his grief consoled, and very hap
py in the thought of the studies he
was TO commence next morning The
kind principal, Herr Toppert, had al
lowed him to visit the beautiful col
lege library and had shown him fine
engravings that afforded far better
idea of the magnificent statues of
antiquity than the sketches he had
first seen. His preceptor allowed him
to read and study in the library, and
had thus gave his instructive love of
the beautiful development. lie felt
intoxicated by the world of knowl-
edge, whose threshold he had just
crossed. But when he had thrown
the little pebble they had agreed upon
as their signal, on his fathers roof,
and the old mans voice was not rais-
ed in reply, he was suddenly over
come by the presentiment of some
misfortune. He told the kind door
keeper of his fears, and the latter
promised that he would 60 and i'm
quire about the cobbler. Soon after,
he knocked at the shop door, which
was locked on the inside.
"Shake it harder, said feeble
voice from within, "and it will give
way"
The door-keeper gave it "a violent
push, and the door opened.
"Help me to be taken to the hos
pital, kind sir" said the cobbler ON
perceiving him; sit is the last ser
vice / shall ask Of your charity. All
my limbs are crippled and am una
BILE to work"
On looking at him, the other saw
that he had told the truth. "Wait a
few minutes, he said 81 am goiug
to bring the college doctor to see
you"
"Oh, pray do not say anything
about it to my Joachim 90
"You can rest easv on that score -
The door-keeper, on returning to
the college, avoided the child, who
was moreover in his classroom, but
informed the principal of the condi-
tion of the poor old man. The prin-
cipal sent for the physician, and both
went to the shop. After examining
the old man, the doctor decided that
he must be taken Immediately 10 the
hospital, where, on his recommenda-
ton, he would be carefully nursed.
81 will undertake TO break the
news TO your son, and console him,
said the principal, 10 soothe the fa-
ther's grief "and he shall come and
visit you every Sunday after the SER
vices are over"
The first interview was heart-rend-
ing. This time it was the father who
was obliged to soothe the sorrow Of
the son, for it seemed TO the child ms
if he were wicked and ungrateful TO
leave in that asylum Of poverty the
father who had bestowed such tender
care upon his childhood
"You can do nothing now" said
the good old man. "You can only
work, grow up and obtain a situation
when you have completed your edu-
cation; then you shall come 10 my
assistance"
fAh, ] will not wait 20 long as
that, replied the child, who bad sud-
denly formed a resolution. Strength
ened By his determination, he left biz
father, saying, "Next Sunday with
a smile that meant "You shall be
pleased with me"
The following Sunday the child
brought his father a little money
that be had earned himself
"And how said the sick man,
deeply moved.
'sBy doing what ] have seen you
do so mending my school
mates shoes during the recess.
went 10 the sbop. took your apron
AuM byDlrs anu ST. W WI "a HtAANNtf
/ also earned a little by giving few
lessons 10 the Youngest pupils ia the
college. ] shall continue - DO -
every week, and on Sunday will bring
you what ! have made. IL wiz help
you to be better cared FOR. l6u can
have tobacco, beer, and Occasi0nally
the nice sauer-kraut you like 80 much I
The old man smiled through BIZ
tears, and held his child closely clasp
I'd in bis arms for a long time.
a kind, generous feeling lends /
grandeur 10 the most commonplace /
things, and thus little Joachim sonl /
expanded during the coarse ton that /
filed bis leisure hours. While be- was 4
putting nails OF patch ON old shoes /
iis thoughts were lowering around 4
Homer's Olympus ~ il was Dcmos- /
themes that Oiled biz Imagination, and /
transported him n the Atheps h. s0 /
learlv loved.